m(Ostrov moved to The Island: in foreign (english-spoken) releases the film is named so)

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'''Ostrov''' (Ru:Остров, ''The Island'') is a 2006 Russian biographical film about a fictional 20th century monk. The film closed the 2006 Venice Film Festival.

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'''Ostrov''' (Ru:Остров, ''The Island'') is a 2006 Russian biographical film about a fictional 20th century [[monk]]. The film closed the 2006 Venice Film Festival.

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The film is focused on father Anatoly's repentance of his sin (therefore the virtually continuous occurrence of the [[Jesus Prayer]]); but the transgressions of the depicted character (a fool for Christ) and their impact on the others are the means by which the actual plot develops. Thus, talking on character's self-awareness, film's director Pavel Lungin said he doesn't regard him as being clever or spiritual, but blessed "in the sense that he is an exposed nerve, which connects to the pains of this world. His absolute power is a reaction to the pain of those people who come to it;" while "typically, when the miracle happens, the lay people asking for a miracle are always dissatisfied" because "the world does not tolerate domestic miracles." Dmitry Sobolev, the scenarist, further explains: "When people ask for something from God, he is often wrong because God has a better understanding of what a person wants at that moment."<ref name="film-sermon">[http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/164751.html «Остров». Фильм-событие. Фильм-проповедь] (''"The Island" - Film-event. Film-sermon''), Russian Orthodox Church website, [[2006-10-25]], accessed 2008-03-17. {{ru icon}}</ref> Pyotr Mamonov, who plays the lead character, formerly one of the few rock musicians in USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." Mamonov received a blessing from his confessor for playing the character.<ref name="film-sermon" />

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The film is focused on Father Anatoly's repentance of his [[sin]] (therefore the virtually continuous occurrence of the [[Jesus Prayer]]); but the transgressions of the depicted character (a fool for Christ) and their impact on the others are the means by which the actual plot develops. Thus, talking on character's self-awareness, film's director Pavel Lungin said he doesn't regard him as being clever or spiritual, but blessed "in the sense that he is an exposed nerve, which connects to the pains of this world. His absolute power is a reaction to the pain of those people who come to it;" while "typically, when the [[miracle]] happens, the lay people asking for a miracle are always dissatisfied" because "the world does not tolerate domestic miracles." Dmitry Sobolev, the scenarist, further explains: "When a person ask for something from God, he is often wrong because God has a better understanding of what a person wants at that moment."<ref name="film-sermon">[http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/164751.html «Остров». Фильм-событие. Фильм-проповедь] (''"The Island" - Film-event. Film-sermon''), Russian Orthodox Church website, 2006-10-25, accessed 2008-03-17.</ref> Pyotr Mamonov, who plays the lead character, formerly one of the few rock musicians in USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." Mamonov received a blessing from his confessor for playing the character.<ref name="film-sermon" />

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The simplicity, the humbleness, the remoteness, the miracles converge into creating a timeless snapshot of the Orthodox spirituality, apart from the historical circumstances. Patriarch Patriarch Alexius II of Russia praised ''Ostrov'' for its profound depiction of faith and monastic life, calling it a "vivid example of an effort to take a Christian approach to culture."<ref>Cf. [http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=561 Feature film about Orthodox monk sweeps Russian film awards], Ecumenical News International, 2007-02-01, accessed 2008-03-17.</ref>

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The simplicity, the humbleness, the remoteness, the miracles converge into creating a timeless snapshot of the Orthodox spirituality, apart from the historical circumstances. Patriarch [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] of Russia praised ''Ostrov'' for its profound depiction of faith and [[monasticism|monastic]] life, calling it a "vivid example of an effort to take a Christian approach to culture."<ref>Cf. [http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=561 Feature film about Orthodox monk sweeps Russian film awards], Ecumenical News International, 2007-02-01, accessed 2008-03-17.</ref>

The filming location was the city of [[w:Kem (town)|Kem]], in [[w:Karelia|Karelia]], on the shores of the [[w:White Sea|White Sea]].<ref name="film-sermon" />

The filming location was the city of [[w:Kem (town)|Kem]], in [[w:Karelia|Karelia]], on the shores of the [[w:White Sea|White Sea]].<ref name="film-sermon" />

== Plot summary ==

== Plot summary ==

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During World War II, the sailor Anatoly and his captain, Tikhon are captured by the [[Nazis]] when they board their barge and tugboat which is carrying a shipment of coal. The Nazi officer leading the raid offers Anatoly the choice to shoot Tikhon and stay alive which Anatoly reluctantly takes, and Tikhon falls overboard. The Nazis blow up the ship but Anatoly is found by monks on the shore the next morning. He survives and becomes a stoker at the monastery, but is perpetually overcome with guilt.

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During World War II, the sailor Anatoly and his captain Tikhon are captured by the Nazis when they board their barge and tugboat which is carrying a shipment of coal. The Nazi officer leading the raid offers Anatoly the choice to shoot Tikhon and stay alive which Anatoly reluctantly takes, and Tikhon falls overboard. The Nazis blow up the ship but Anatoly is found by monks on the shore the next morning. He survives and becomes a stoker at the [[monastery]], but is perpetually overcome with guilt.

Thirty years pass... Anatoly now has the gift of clairvoyance and healing. But the other monks don't really understand him. People come to see Anatoly for cures and guidance. But even now, he remains in a perpetual state of repentance. He often gets in a boat and goes to an uninhabited island where he prays for mercy and forgiveness.

Thirty years pass... Anatoly now has the gift of clairvoyance and healing. But the other monks don't really understand him. People come to see Anatoly for cures and guidance. But even now, he remains in a perpetual state of repentance. He often gets in a boat and goes to an uninhabited island where he prays for mercy and forgiveness.

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A prominent admira] arrives to see Anatoly with his daughter. The daughter is possessed by demons but Anatoly exorcises them. The admiral turns out to be Tikhon. It is revealed that Anatoly only wounded him during the war. Tikhon forgives Anatoly.

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A prominent admiral arrives to see Anatoly with his daughter. The daughter is possessed by demons but Anatoly exorcises them. The admiral turns out to be Tikhon. It is revealed that Anatoly only wounded him during the war. Tikhon forgives Anatoly.

Anatoly can now die peacefully. The monks discover that he has foreknowledge of his death and make him a coffin out of a coal box. he lies down in it, and dies. The coffin is buried on the uninhabited island where he spent his time praying.

Anatoly can now die peacefully. The monks discover that he has foreknowledge of his death and make him a coffin out of a coal box. he lies down in it, and dies. The coffin is buried on the uninhabited island where he spent his time praying.

Latest revision as of 01:21, November 24, 2010

Ostrov (Ru:Остров, The Island) is a 2006 Russian biographical film about a fictional 20th century monk. The film closed the 2006 Venice Film Festival.

The film is focused on Father Anatoly's repentance of his sin (therefore the virtually continuous occurrence of the Jesus Prayer); but the transgressions of the depicted character (a fool for Christ) and their impact on the others are the means by which the actual plot develops. Thus, talking on character's self-awareness, film's director Pavel Lungin said he doesn't regard him as being clever or spiritual, but blessed "in the sense that he is an exposed nerve, which connects to the pains of this world. His absolute power is a reaction to the pain of those people who come to it;" while "typically, when the miracle happens, the lay people asking for a miracle are always dissatisfied" because "the world does not tolerate domestic miracles." Dmitry Sobolev, the scenarist, further explains: "When a person ask for something from God, he is often wrong because God has a better understanding of what a person wants at that moment."[1] Pyotr Mamonov, who plays the lead character, formerly one of the few rock musicians in USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." Mamonov received a blessing from his confessor for playing the character.[1]

The simplicity, the humbleness, the remoteness, the miracles converge into creating a timeless snapshot of the Orthodox spirituality, apart from the historical circumstances. Patriarch Alexei II of Russia praised Ostrov for its profound depiction of faith and monastic life, calling it a "vivid example of an effort to take a Christian approach to culture."[2]

Contents

Plot summary

During World War II, the sailor Anatoly and his captain Tikhon are captured by the Nazis when they board their barge and tugboat which is carrying a shipment of coal. The Nazi officer leading the raid offers Anatoly the choice to shoot Tikhon and stay alive which Anatoly reluctantly takes, and Tikhon falls overboard. The Nazis blow up the ship but Anatoly is found by monks on the shore the next morning. He survives and becomes a stoker at the monastery, but is perpetually overcome with guilt.

Thirty years pass... Anatoly now has the gift of clairvoyance and healing. But the other monks don't really understand him. People come to see Anatoly for cures and guidance. But even now, he remains in a perpetual state of repentance. He often gets in a boat and goes to an uninhabited island where he prays for mercy and forgiveness.

A prominent admiral arrives to see Anatoly with his daughter. The daughter is possessed by demons but Anatoly exorcises them. The admiral turns out to be Tikhon. It is revealed that Anatoly only wounded him during the war. Tikhon forgives Anatoly.

Anatoly can now die peacefully. The monks discover that he has foreknowledge of his death and make him a coffin out of a coal box. he lies down in it, and dies. The coffin is buried on the uninhabited island where he spent his time praying.